Griffin Fans Excited Dan Cleary is Signed and the new Season Opens October 14

There's good news and excitement in Hockey Town - West this weekend. The Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday signed veteran forward Dan Cleary to a one-year contract.

During his first season with the Griffins in 2015-16 and first in the American Hockey League since 1999-00, Cleary played in 35 games for Grand Rapids and contributed 15 points (3-12—15). The 37-year-old skated in all nine of the team’s Calder Cup Playoff games and tallied six penalty minutes.

Over the course of his 19-year professional career, Cleary has played in 938 NHL games between the Blackhawks, Edmonton Oilers, Phoenix (Arizona) Coyotes and Detroit Red Wings. Cleary helped Detroit capture the franchise’s 11th Stanley Cup in 2008.

Signed as a free agent by Detroit in 2005, the native of Carbonear, Newfoundland, has played in 609 games with the Red Wings, producing 275 points and 299 PIM.

Ken Anderson/Getty Images

The Griffins will open the 2016-17 campaign at home against the Chicago Wolves on Friday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. before traveling to Chicago and battling the Wolves on Oct. 15.

Single-game tickets are currently on sale. Fans can secure their full-season, select-season or group ticket packages by calling (616) 774-4585 ext. 2 or visit griffinshockey.com for more information.